The first day of issue of for RW69, the 2002 Federal Duck Stamp will be Monday, July 1, 2002. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. Terry Bell of the Federal Duck Stamp Office advises the Postal Service will be on hand to sell stamps and cancel philatelic items. Concurrent with the first day ceremony of the stamp, the revised exhibit of “Artistic License - The Duck Stamp Story,” located in the Jeanette Cantrell Rudy Gallery, examines the history of the Federal Duck Stamp Program. The gallery features two videos and a selection of rare duck stamps and other philatelic items highlighting the program’s contribution to the conservation of the nation’s waterfowl population. The gallery has been completely renovated for 2002. The theme for the new display is “Art and Artists.” The planned opening of this exhibit is July 1, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. The new display will feature: Original Art – Four pieces of original art used to create the designs of Federal Duck Stamps will be displayed including the 2000 design, Mottled Duck by Adam Grimm. Also on display will be artwork from 1946, 1947 and 1986. Remarques – Unique collectibles created when the original artist paints or draws a picture on one of the stamps he designed. Some of the highlights are the unique remarques done by Maynard Reece, greatest of all duck stamp artists, and the story of his friendship with Jay N. Darling, the designer of the first federal duck stamp. State and Indian reservation duck stamps, including a rare printing error of the 1976 Fort Peck (MT) tribal sportsman stamp. The first day ceremony for the 2002-03 federal duck stamp will be held at the same time and place; The National Postal Museum, #2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20560. Joe Hautman will host an Artist Hometown Event on July 10. The location will be in the Minneapolis, Minn. area, and plans include a golf tournament (which he hopes to continue every year). Hautman has secured one of the best golf clubs in the Minneapolis area. Attendees can plan to golf all day, enjoy the stamp and print exhibits and a steak dinner in the late afternoon/evening. Sounds like a fun event. Interested in sponsoring a hole? For a $600 donation, you will receive greens fees, a golf cart, prizes and signage which would promote your business. Sponsors are welcome to be the team leader for the team you sponsor. Each team would include four people. Contact Mike Juhnke at 651-406-9111. All of the profits from the day will be dedicated to a wetlands project and would be grant matched by the USFWS. Hautman and the Region 3 Fish and Wildlife Service are looking at several projects right now.